Cover for electric sockets



Mrh 9 1926. 1,575,815

J. c. cARLsoN COVER FOR ELECTRIC socxm's Filed May 5, 1924 Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,575,815 ATENT ()FFl CE.

JOSEPH C. CARLSON, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

CovEE Eon ELECTRIC SOCKETS.

Application filed May 3, 1924. Serial No. 710,816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osErrr C. GARLSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Cover for Electric Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to sockets primarily adapted forv use with electric lamps, and the primary object of the invention is to provide attachable covers for meta1 electric sockets whereby shocking will be prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elastic non-conducting cover for electric sockets which will act as a cushion for protecting the sockets against blows which would ordinarily render the sockets unfit for use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cover of the class described being so formed as to permit of its being slipped over the socket from the end, opposite to the cord, and there effectively retained, no matter whether the socketis of the plain, pull or key type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of the improved covers showing it mounted over an electric socket of ordinary construction.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cover showing it mounted about an electric socket.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the im-- proved cover showing the same in a partially expanded position for mounting about an electric socket, and 1 Figure 4: is a sectional view through the cover on line F 1 of Figure 1, showing parts of the socket broken away.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and wherein like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several'views, A designates an electric socketof the ordinary key type, and B my improved cover therefor, the cover being further retained in an operative position about the socket A by an elastic element C.

The cover B which is substantially tubular shaped in formation, is preferably constructed of resilient or elastic rubber or analogous material and is open at both ends to permit it to be positioned about the socket A. The cover B which isso formed as to conform somewhat to the general configuration of the socket A, and which is of a size slightly smaller than the socketto which it is to be attached, consists of a tubular central body portion 5 having a slightly reduced tubular end body portion 6 formed adjacent one end thereof. The opposite end of the body portion 5 is provided with a shoulder 7 which terminates in an axially aligned collar 8 adapted to embrace the reduced neck 9 of the socket.

A longitudinally extending slit 10 terminating at one end in the collar opening 1.1, and at its other. end in a longitudinally extending slot 12, provided in the central body portion 5, permits of the collar end of the cover to be readily spread to a position for permitting of its being passed over the en-.

larged central portion 13 of the socket from the bulb receiving end to thecord attaching end thereof. This slit 10 is cut on a bias in order that the abutting end faces of the slit will form an overlapping joint 14: for fully preventing the exposure of the metal socket along the slit. This overlapping joint also permits of the cover being adaptable to sockets of slightly vary ing dimensions. The longitudinally eX- tending slot 12 which provides an aperture through which the laterally projecting shaft 15 of the socket key 16 may extend, pen niits of the cover being applied to key sockets wherein the key is disposed out of a standard position. J

The elastic element C is preferably in the form of an elastic band. '17 which is adapted to encircle the cover at a point intermediate the ends of the overlapping joint 14 for aiding in retaining the cover in position about the socket A, and retaining the abutting end faces of the divided portion in overlapping relation. If desired, the band 17 may be omitted, astheinherent tendency of the material of which the cover is constructed to assume a normal position will retain the cover and joint in adjusted operative relation about the socket A.

hen mounting the improved cover about an electric socket it is necessary to spread the dividedport ion thereof as clearly shown in Figure 3, which will present an opening large enough for permitting of the collar end of the cover being readily slid'over the from their bulb receiving ends, and therefore eliminate the necessity of removing the wires from the socket in order to apply the cover.

lVhile in the drawing the cover is illustrated as substantially tubular in shape, it

is to be understood that it may be made square or polygonal shaped in cross section or any other shape desired for embracing the specific type of electric socket to which it is to be applied.

Changes in detail may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention; but, I claim:

l. A cover for that type of electric socket formed with a reduced cord receiving end, cmnprising a hollow elastic body conforming to the general configuration of the socket, said cover being slit from its reduced end portion to a point adjacent its greatest dimension for permitting of the reduced end portion being spread to a position whereby the cover may be readily slid over-the socket from the bulb receiving end thereof and snugly embrace the sides of the socket.

2. A. cover for that type of electric socket formed with a reduced cord receiving end and provided with a laterally projecting operating element, comprising a substantially tubular shaped. elastic body conforming to the general configuration of the socket, said cover having an aperture ')l0 vided intermediate its ends through which said operating element may project, and having a slit extending from the reduced end portion of the cover to said intermedivately disposed aperture whereby the reduced end portion of the cover may be spread to a position for pern'iitting of its being slid over the socket from the enlarged bulb receiving end thereof.

3. A cover for that type of electric socket formed with a reduced cord receiving end and provided with a laterally projecting operating element, comprising a substantiallytubular shaped elastic body conforming to the general configuration of the socket, said cover having an aperture provided intermediate its ends through which said operating element may project, and hav- Ql) ing a slit extending from the reduced end portion of the cover to said intermediately disposed aperture whereby the reduced end portion of the cover may be spread to a position for permitting of its being slid over the socket from the enlarged bulb receiving end thereof, and an elastic band encircling the divided portion of the socket for further aiding in retaining the cover in position about the socket and retaining the abutting end faces of the divided port-ion in abutting relation.

d. A cover for that type of electric socket formed with a reduced cord receiving end and provided with a laterally projecuing op erating element, comprising a substantially tubular shaped elastic body conforming to the general configuration of the socket, said cover provided with a longitudinally extending slot intermediate the ends tl ereof through which said operating element may project, and having a longitudinally extending slit extending from the reduced end portion thereof to said slot in a manner for pro viding an overlapping joint when the cover is slid over the socket from the bulb receiving end of the socket.

5. A cover for that type of electric socket formed with a reduced cord receving end and provided with a laterally projecting operating element, comprising a substantially tubular shaped elastic element formed with a central body portion having a slightly reduced body portion formed at one end thereof and a reduced neck portion formed at the opposite end thereof, said cover being provided in its central body portion with a longitudinally extending slot through which said operating element may project, and having a diagonally cutslit extending longitudinally of the cover from the open end of the neck portion to said slot for permitting of the divided end portion being spread to an extentwhereby the cover may be raidily slid over the socket from the bulb rcceivin end and snugly embrace the sides of the socket due to the inherent temlency of the cover to assume a normal position.

(1. As an article of manufactiu'e an elastic non-coluluctive cover for electric sockets comprising a central tubular body having a slightly reduced tubular body portion formed at one end thereof and a shoulder formed at its opposite end tern' inating in a reduced neck portion, said central portion being provided with a longitudinally extend ing slot, and a diagonally cut slit extending longitudinally of the cover from the open end of said neck portion to said slot.

JOSEPH C. CARLSON. 

